Janet Sainsbury: Points in a Constellation

Posted on 28th November 2023

The museum’s collections and displays provide inspiration for artists locally and nationally to create new work. RAMM commissioned Exeter-based artist Janet Sainsbury in Spring 2023. She is known for her contemporary approach to portrait painting.

Sainsbury chose to study four women artists whose work is in RAMM’s art collection: two Exeter-based contemporary artists, Michelle Sank and Amy Shelton, and two artists with links to the southwest, Barbara Hepworth (1903-1975) and Gillian Ayres (1930-2018).  Sainsbury met, photographed and sketched both Sank and Shelton from life while she referred to historic photographs of Ayres and Hepworth to inform her sketches and create new portraits.

‘I paint portraits of artists because I’m interested in their different paths and connections, how that relates to their inner lives and how that is expressed in their work. All four artists are connected, for me, by a passionate determination and how they emotionally and instinctively respond to the world around them.’ 
Janet Sainsbury

The selected sketches and finished paintings offer a fascinating insight into Sainsbury’s artistic practice, illustrating a skill that combines both a bold palette and sensitive line, resulting in a unique style.

Watch Janet Sainsbury talking about her work in a short video:

To celebrate International Women’s Day, Janet Sainsbury will be at RAMM on Saturday 9 March from 11 am to 3 pm with a temporary display of additional work made for this commission. The artist will be in conversation with Lara Goodband, Contemporary Art Curator & Programmer, at 11:30 am that day. Free, drop-in.

Part of RAMM’s Contemporary Art Programme, funded by Arts Council England.